Investigation of the relationship between molluscum pendulum and impairment of carbohydrate metabolism

Aim and hypothesis: High blood sugar level, insulin resistance, dislipidemia, serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels are accepted to be indicators of impaired carbohydrate metabolism. The potential role of these markers in the pathogenesis of molluscum pendulum was investigated in this study.Method: Forty-five molluscum pendulum patients and 45 age, sex, body mass index matched individuals as controls were included. Evaluation included dermatological examination, measurement of insulin resistance using HOMA-IR method, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, fasting insülin, postprandial insülin, serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels.Findings: Postprandial blood glucose, fasting insulin, postprandial insulin, fasting blood glucose and HOMA-IR levels of molluscum pendulum patients were statistically higher than controls (p=0,037, p=0,027, p=0,03, p=0,021 respectively) whereas serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly lower than that of controls (p=0,008, p=0,001). There was no difference in fasting glucose and lipid profile between the two groups. The number of molluscum pendulum lesions correlated with total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Three patients (6,7%) had DM and one patient (13,3%) had impaired glucose tolerance. Only one person from the control group (2,2%) had impaired glucose tolerance.Conclusion: Molluscum pendulum patients should have blood glucose and insulin resistance measurements done and be followed up for DM. Patients with multiple lesions need to be evaluated for lipid problems. Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels have no role in the pathogenesis of molluscum pendulum.Key words: Molluscum pendulum, Insulin resistance, IGF-1, IGFBP-3.Address of correspondence: Dr. Murat Kemal HarbutluoğluAdnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Department of Dermatology and VenereologyAydın/ Turkeydrmuratkemal@yahoo.com